Luanda - Human milk banks play a strategic role in public policies for early childhood, covering the promotion, protection and support of breastfeeding, said Tuesday in Luanda Province the Brazilian ambassador to Angola, Rafael Vidal.
Speaking at the first Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) Human Milk Bank Congress, the diplomat said that human milk is a right shared between women and children within the framework of the interculturality of each country.
At the time, he announced the creation of the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ) certification programme for Human Milk Banks.
He explained that FIOCRUZ Certification is an innovation in Human Milk Banking services and represents a paradigm shift in the way the Brazilian network operates.
“This is a new front for collaboration with the CPLP, a strategic inter-unit of FIOCRUZ to strengthen the scientific, productive, technological, managerial and quality assurance capacities of the Global Network of Human Milk Banks”, he emphasised.
To his, this cooperation is not only a strategic action to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) directly related to health, but also a reinforcement for food security and the reduction of all forms of malnutrition.
He emphasised that the new framework for action for Human Milk Bank (HMB) directs them towards the commitments set out in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in the health sector.
Rafael Vidal informed that given the pioneering spirit and quality of the work that have been developed, Brazil proposed Cabo Verde to be the first member state of the community to start implementing the certification programme.
He added that it is a great conquest for Angola, Brazil as well as all the CPLP by the holding of the congress, highlighting that for him, it is a unique opportunity for experience Exchange on human milk banks in order for other countries to be aware of the experience.
The diplomat revealed that the experiences Brazil shares abroad through international technical cooperation projects have helped to identify problems and build common innovative solutions between Brazil and partner countries with the support of international organisations.
National and World Human Milk Donation Day is celebrated on 19 May.
Currently, international technical cooperation in human milk banks, carried out by Brazil Cooperation Agency (ABC) and FIOCRUZ, brings together Argentina, Angola, Belize, Bolivia, Cabo Verde, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, El Salvador, Ecuador, Spain, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Paraguay, Dominican Republic, Uruguay and Venezuela.
Breast milk is a determinant of human health that has repercussions throughout life, as well as nourishing the child in the first days and months after birth, reducing the risk of infectious diseases and preventing malnutrition in its various forms.
It also favours cognitive development and reduces the incidence of chronic diseases in adulthood.
EVC/OHA/MRA/jmc
